Chapter 88: Negotiations (II)

"We should have started training a regular army long ago — beginning now is already a bit late." Cai Feiming gazed at the sailing ships soaking in the great pool that was Taijiang.

"It's not that easy. Just the disinfection, simple weapon-mount swaps, and radar installation took half a month." Xia Xianze glanced at Cai Feiming, then continued: "From the four sand ships that came to Dayuan, we barely screened out thirty of the right age. That only just started — we haven't even taught them foot drill yet."

"Oh… that is a lot of trouble. So these sand ships are short on crewmen now?"

"Not short. How many men does an empty ship need for the return trip? Hangzhou has spare crewmen on standby."

"When do the empty ships head back?"

"In the next couple of days. Keeping one Yuan Dou on permanent station at Dayuan is enough; the rest all go run transport."

After chatting aimlessly for a while and seeing Cai Feiming's mood gradually settle, Xia Xianze finally said: "Best to make one more push for it. Even if he's just a henchman, once he fully understands our intent, he can still serve well as a bridge for communication. We've become Sitting Tigers now — every bit of resource must be fought for. The Dutchmen's logistics and human resources are very important; this isn't something machine guns can solve. Sigh, industrialization devours resources too greedily."

"Mm, I understand all that. I'll consider a backup plan. It just depends on whether this henchman cooperates or not."

The next morning, when the Dutchmen once again sat in the corner of the Great Office, the atmosphere was noticeably more relaxed — Mr. Van der Hagen had taken the initiative to request a meeting today. The reason was that after returning yesterday, this fellow had consulted a certain Lieutenant who had nearly had his thigh broken.

That Lieutenant, lying in bed recovering, was naturally in no position to notice that those fearsome weapons did have a weak point — ammunition. So the professional analysis Van der Hagen ultimately received was: the Kunlun People were fully capable of annihilating the Company's fleet, and even if the Company sent another fleet to Dayuan to wage war, it would fail all the same.

"Van, I have a feeling today's conversation will be a pleasant one," Cai Feiming said with a smile.

Van der Hagen nodded slightly: "Yesterday, it was I who made some excessive demands, causing the negotiations to break down. Such a thing will not happen again, my dear Cai."

"It's not a negotiation." Cai Feiming leaned back in his chair and said easily: "Although the situation makes it look like we're negotiating, you have no authorization from Batavia, and an Interim Governor's authority is too limited. The only man qualified to conduct negotiations with us, Mr. Nuytz, is still in Japan."

"Then why am I sitting here?"

"To convey." Cai Feiming smiled: "We hope that the very first moment Mr. Nuytz returns to Dayuan, there will be a gentleman who fully understands the Kunlun People's thinking, ready to bring our friendship and trade plan and offer an explanation."

"Although it's a bit disheartening, I understand my value now. Very well — what exactly does this friendship consist of?"

The Transmigration Company's friendship, at this stage, could only be raw silk and porcelain; industrial goods production was still far off. But those were precisely what the Dutch lacked, so the friendship between both sides ought to be established quickly.

"So, what those coolies carried from the flat-bottomed boats into the Shang Hall Warehouse — that was raw silk and porcelain?" Van der Hagen was faintly stirred at this moment.

"You now have permission. After lunch, you may go inspect the Warehouse."

"Oh, my God! Quickly, tell me your follow-up plan — I can't wait to know it now!"

The Kunlun bandit gang's follow-up plan was very simple: from now on, the Dutch would gain the right to enter Dayuan for trade. Among the commodities provided by the Kunlun People, a certain quantity of raw silk, porcelain, and Songjiang cloth would be guaranteed. As a symbol of friendship, the moment an agreement was reached, the captives would be released. That was it.

Van der Hagen's eyes went wide: "And the silver coins? I've already given up hope on the Shang Hall, but the three hundred thousand guilders you seized — do you have no explanation at all? That was the Company's payment for goods! Oh, my God!"

"You are a bastard who loves to ruin things." Cai Feiming said with contempt: "Up to this day, how many men and ships have the gentlemen of the East India Company sacrificed to obtain Ming raw silk and porcelain? War with the Portuguese, war with the Spanish, war with the Ming people — attacking Macau, attacking Penghu, oh yes, and just a few days ago attacking Tongshan, conveniently throwing away yet another fleet in the process."

"The silver coins wasted on these wars far exceed three hundred thousand guilders! And yet, where is the raw silk and porcelain? You idiot — securing a stable supply channel for Ming commodities is a plan the VOC has been pursuing at any cost. Now, that channel has been laid right before you, and what's more, you've already paid for it! I now see why you're not even a Senior Merchant — you bastard have absolutely no strategic mind. You'd best roll back to Amsterdam and open a brothel; everything there is an on-the-spot transaction — it suits you."

"But still, this is far too much. If at least a portion of the spoils were returned, I believe the misunderstanding between both sides could be resolved more quickly. Please believe me, Cai — my intentions are good."

Cai Feiming shook his head helplessly, then asked in a gentle tone: "Any power base, nation, company, even the Church — all produce internal factions. My friend, you wouldn't deny this point, would you?"

"That is quite clear, and I agree." Van der Hagen nodded.

"The Kunlun People likewise have factions internally." Cai Feiming pointed at the tip of his own nose: "The man sitting before you is a member of the faction that currently holds internal power. We belong to the moderate faction, the one that advocates developing strength as the first priority."

"Within our Organization, there exists a party named the 'See-a-Face-Kill-Them-All-Before-Nightfall-Exterminate-Every-Race-Except-the-Ming-People Party.'"

"That is a bit radical, but you should be very familiar with this type of person: in Europe, they cook many living people every year. See, you've remembered now — that's right, the fanatics."

Cai Feiming stood up, lightly patted the now somewhat stupefied Dutchman on the shoulder, then gestured before his face with a fingertip: "Even a silver coin this small — once it becomes spoils of war, if it were returned to you, then this one coin would be elevated to a political matter by certain people. The currently ruling Development Faction would be branded cowards and traitors, subjected to fierce accusations and attacks. They are very good at agitating the neutrals. Believe me, my friend — you do not want to see me driven from power."

"The very first day those people seize power, you will, because your status is just that little bit higher, enjoy the privilege of being among the first batch hanged. By the time Mr. Nuytz returns to the waters off Dayuan, he definitely won't recognize you, swaying on that fine gallows that Mr. Weiss personally ordered built — because by then, your shoulders and the top of your head will be crowded with black-faced spoonbills, diligently searching among your ribs for the very last shred of meat."

Looking at the Dutchman slumped limp in his chair, Cai Feiming smiled and gave his final summary: "Trade, my friend. Everything else is secondary. So long as trade can commence, all unpleasantness will instantly fade away. Believe me."

"But without the payment for goods, even if His Excellency Nuytz signs a trade treaty with you, there will be no way to execute it. Only God knows when Batavia will send another shipment of silver coins! Perhaps what comes next won't be a silver ship, but a fleet!" Van der Hagen shouted with the last of his strength.

"No need to worry, my friend. Mr. Nuytz will return to Batavia with a full load of raw silk and porcelain."

"I need an explanation!"

"A loan, my friend." Cai Feiming's face was all smiles: "Spoils of war are a political problem, but a loan — that is merely an ordinary commercial matter. The Dutch East India Company, with its outstanding reputation and formidable strength, has been unanimously assessed by the Kunlun Banking Sector as a client of the highest quality. So — take out a loan, my dea…"

Van der Hagen's mouth hung open, his pupils having lost focus — he probably needed a moment to grasp the situation.